Details of Services Offered:
MARK DAVID CARTER, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Fashion Events Planning for INNER BEAUTY FASHION AFFAIR, specializes in the training and development of fashion models, with focus in the areas of runway, tradeshow and print modeling. He has served nearly ten years as a Chicago based celebrity commentator, fashion model and special events coordinator. Carter has been a business and events consultant since 1992. He recently relocated to expand his business concept to the Washington Metropolitan Area.
He has produced and directed the following fashion presentations: Ice (Winter 1996), The Magic, Majesty & Mystique of Fashions (Winter 1997), Mannequins (Summer 1998), The Walk of Fame (Winter 1998), Creme De La Creme (Summer 1999), Equinox (Winter 1999), Blaque Taboo (Summer 2000), Illusions (Winter 2000), Sweetest Hangover (Summer 2001), Reality: 007 Fashion Odyssey (Winter 2001), Haute Transitions (Summer 2002), The Chill Factor Of Hair & Fashions (Winter 2002), Total Gravity (Summer 2003), Photoshoot (Winter 2003), Revolution: Evolve In Style (Winter 2004), Fashion Casino (Summer 2005), High Voltage (Winter 2005), Fashion Carnival (Summer 2006),Portfolio (Winter 2006) and Cirque De Fashions (Summer 2007).
His other experience includes the fashion programming of more than fifteen distinct clients -- AFAM Concepts, Inc. (Vitale), Africa International House, Afrique Newsmagazine, Assembly of Faith Church, Chicago Public Schools (Hyde Park, South Shore and Westinghouse), D-orum Products, DuSable Museum, The Ella Flagg Young Association, HAJ Designs Chicago, JF Labs, Inc., Laura Rosa House, Inc., Lou Rawls Tobacco Road, Inc., Martin’s Intercluture, Ltd., Motorola Corporation, Planning Experts, Ltd., Power Circle Congregation, South Central Community Services, Under The Veil Foundation and The Women’s Community Club (Racine, WI).
Mark was a core member of the production staff for fashion events produced in conjunction with these cutting edge designers -- Folorunso Alakija (Nigeria), Kofi Ansah (Ghana), Fred Eboka (South Africa), Elhadi Mademba Gueye (Senegal), Ron Hodges (New York) and Stella Quaye (Ghana). He has been often called “The Ambassador For Fashion”.
Carter’s fashion event planning skills were used by African Festival Of The Arts 1997 through 2006. His title was Fashion Show Coordinator. His responsibilities included: fashion commentary, garment procurement, model management, music arrangement and show format. He was also involved in organizing televised fashion segments for the event’s media partners ABC 7, FOX 32, NBC 5 and WGN 9.
In June 2001, Mark David Carter was presented with a Community Service Award by Mother to Mother, a non-profit agency specializing in transitional services for women. Mr. Carter pursued a B.A. in Business Administration with concentration in Hospitality Management at Howard University in Washington, D.C. What makes my services unique?
A decade of planning fashion shows in Chicago has opened my eyes. At first, I was blinded by temporary moments in fashion, but I now discern the reality of who I am and the role I play in this business community. Significant struggle and sacrifice has guided me to this path and ensures the future manifestation of my short and long-term endeavors.
How many of you know someone in fashion and entertainment that have come up with one of these bright ideas? BRIGHT IDEA 1. Someone wealthy can find me, and I will get paid a lot of money to live my dreams. BRIGHT IDEA 2. If I can find a sponsor, I will be able to pay everybody and have money left to purchase a condo. BRIGHT IDEA 3. We can get the models to sell 600 tickets, and there will be enough money to pay expenses and clear $8,000 profit. BRIGHT IDEA 4. If I get a grant, I will be able to produce my own fashion shows and pay myself a salary. Though all of these ideas sound good and seem relatively easy to achieve, one must realize that these are grand myths or illusions that deviate from what it takes to truly benefit in this industry. And, I must admit that I too may have believed in one or more of these brilliant ideas at some point in time; however, I know first hand not to expect to gain something for nothing.
Many of the solid opportunities that I have received in the Chicago fashion community were based upon equal exchange. In Africa, traders offer their wares in the marketplace. If a buyer does not have money, they can opt to barter a possession or service in exchange for what the trader is selling. The trader has to believe the value of the possession or service is equal to or greater than the going price of their merchandise. Structuring business relationships on the basis of fair exchange, in my opinion, is a realistic approach and can play an integral role in the building of successful business.
In observation of my mentors and based on my experiences, it takes time and sometimes grueling initiative to fashion our dreams into realities. It takes nine months to have a healthy baby. It takes four years to graduate from college. It takes four to six hours to cook a large turkey. And weeks, months and even years are required to heal a broken leg. Frederick Douglas said, “There is no progress without struggle”. If the baby is born in five months, it is considered premature. Would you want a medical student that only went to school for two years to perform surgery on you? No one wants to eat a half done turkey! And, if you remove the cast before the bone heals properly, you may loose the entire leg.
After 10 years of producing fashion shows and training models for runway, I have been able to conduct an assessment of my skill set as it relates to the fashion industry. What exactly is it that I do? I am a planner of fashion shows; I am an event planner; I am a trainer of runway models; I am a manager for model talent, I locate gigs for models, I coordinate fundraisers on behalf of an individual, business or organization; I develop fundraising tools and proposals; I am a photographer; I am an art director for model photoshoots; I am a fashion commentator; I am a fashion model; I am a DJ or music selector; I am a graphic designer that creates pluggers, flyers, posters, program booklets, magazines, proposals, compcards, business cards, logos and presentation folders; I am a website designer; I am an office administrator; I am a business consultant; I am a retail merchandiser and I am an entrepreneur. Attach a value to all of the capabilities that I have, and I have revealed to you the key to the next phase of Inner Beauty Fashion Affair ---- Fostering Relationships Where My Skills, Talents And Abilities Can Be Utilized Based On The Concept Of Fair Exchange (Cash Or Trade). There is value within all that I can do and all that I am.
Sometimes, when you do not see the immediate fruits of your labor, it becomes easy to give in. I have compromised my quality of life to produce events. When the very people I make these sacrifices for fall short of their commitments (or show their negative sides), it becomes very disheartening, very difficult to go on. I work a fulltime job in anticipation of the unknown realities that may prove detrimental to the production of my events. I sacrifice my luxuries, so that I can hold the show. To date, I am grateful I have not cancelled or postponed any of my scheduled events. I have grown to accept full responsibility for my projects; in addition, I have committed my life to my work and the people I serve. I have invested more than ten years of my life to this dynamic of fashion, and I have determined that I will not give in. I will not to let other people’s negativity blow out my light, my passion, for what it is that I enjoy doing. “I’m gonna play this game to win!”
In July 2007 I plan to relocate to Washington, DC and work on completing my degree at Howard University. In DC my outreach efforts will be targeted towards DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York and New Jersy. It is also my intention, to continue workshops in Chicago with the appropriate levels of enrollment. This new journey has given me greater hope for my future and the future of Inner Beauty Fashion Affair.
I am now postured to strategically steer Inner Beauty Fashion Affair through my environment. Though change is a constant, I am a FORCE in the fashion industry with a PORTFOLIO ten years strong. I will use my experience to conquer and overcome adversity. The return on my decade of investment hinges upon my immediate determination to focus all my energies on fashion in 2007. With all my heart and deep appreciation, I Thank Each And Every One Of You For This Journey. Testimonials:
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